Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-15

Sherman, Ingalls,, Hawley, Springer, and
Others Denounce the Tory Policy-The
Postmasters Formulate Their Wants
Grains Congressional Bin-Dickinson's
Confirmation Misses Connection.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec Is Sir Thomas
Grattan Esmonde and Hon. Arthur OCon-
nor, distinguished leaders of the Irish home
rule cause in the British parliament, arrived
in this city Wednesday afternoon from Bal
timore They were accompanied by COM
mittee representing the Irish societies of this
city, who went over to Baltimore for the
purpose of escorting the visitors to this city.
Just before 8 O'Clock in the evening an es-
cort consisting of the Irish societies commit
tee, several military organizations and the
band of the Third artillery assembled at
Wizards hotel and escorted Sir Thorn
as Esmonde and Mr.. OConnor
to Masonic Temple. Fifteen hundred
people, including many ladies, repre-
sentng all sections Of official and social life,
packed the house The stage was occupied by
fifty men, many of them of emineuce, There
were senators and representatives, clergymen
of all faiths and leading citizens The two
gentlemen were EttEiNttl WIN tbuu d1l
continued applause and cheering on their EN-
trance Senator Sherman called the meeting
to order and announced that he was called
upon TO preside in the temporary absence of
Senator ingalls,, who was temporarily de-
tanned. Mr.. Sherman continued by express
ing n deep sympathy with the cause that the
distinguished guests represented. AS he
ceastd speaking Mr.. Ingalls, entered and took
the gavel.
In a brief speech of fervent eloquence, Mr..
Ingalls, set forth the importance and signlfi-
canoe OF the meeting. 1t meant much that
such an assemblnge had met under the
shadow of the dome OF the capitol to show
sympathy for people so cruelty oppressed as
the people of ireland Americans should re-
member the great assistance rendered
BY he Irish in the hour of Americas mortal
struggle For himself he could neverforget that
American fields were illumiued by Irish
valor and sanctified by Irish blood. He
then introduced Mr. OConnor, who was
again loudly applauded
Mr.. O'Connor in a slow measured manner,
briefly recited the history of Ireland's
wrongs and sufferings, and what her sons
were trying to do for her He was particu-
lArlN ETaJllltu Will lit ItCtilllbu ttli 1idasSo
of Americans had given himself and col
league but considered this meeting the most
important of all
Senator Hawley followed in a brief speech
in which he said that he was in favor of Ire
lands home rule desire; that England was
called upon not to give Ireland her rights
| but to release to her the rights which she had
taken from her.
| The band played the Wearing of the
| Green and then Representative Bankhead,
| of Alabama, SAID that he wanted to put on
record that the south was with Ireland in her
ight He did not want Ireland to secede
from the British empire; he believed in a
union: his state had tried secession and had
had enough of it.
| Representative Springer, of Illinois, fol-
| lowed in a stirring speech of half an hour.
He said America was not called upon to &C
on record anew on home rule. 1t went on
record with vengeance hundred years
ago, as England ought to remember. The
distinguished guests should 90 back and tel
their opponents i'll the British parliament
that every worthy American wanted to set
Ireland governing itself. England should b
warned in time What Ireland asked fol
! now Hdl DebIef bt Efdutti. Ile uep oieu lus
the possibility of war, but England might b'
placed in position where terms would b,
dictated to her
Sir Thomas Esmonde was next introduced
He was received with prolonged applause
He said that Englishmen would seek to lessel
the importance of this meeting. But was i
unimportantl Americas course toward this
nations had been all-powerful in the past
When it was struggling nation of s. 600, 90
it influenced the French revolution, and
was well known that the declaration of indie
pendence was the keynote that had strucl
the resounding chord in Henry Grattan'
measure for an Irish parliament a cen
fury ago Was it Likely now, when Amer
lea was twenty times as great, that her sym
patty and Endorsement would be of no avail
Representative Kennedy. of Ohio spoke Q
his Irish grandfather, and with several in
FASHIONED phrases, crying for justice for Irt
land, awoke the audience to intense enthus
asm.
In answer to loud cries. Frederick DOugla
appeared. and spoke happily, wittily, an
earnestly for fifteen minutes. He told of h
meeting with Daniel O'Connell fifty year
ago, when the liberator, at the close of brie
address he DouglassD had then made, spok
of him as "the black O'Connell of the Unite
States" Mr.. Douglass was greeted wit
hearty enthusiasm and hearty laughter.
Letters of regret and sympathy were rea
from Senators Hoar, kenna, Daniel an
Henderson, President Fitzgerald of tt
American Irish National league and man
others The committee on resolutions the
appeared and the resolutions having bee
read, were adopted with a mighty aye, an
at II 30 the meeting adjourned The resoll
l lions were similar to the resolutions usual
1 passed at home rule meetings in this coul
: try.